READY TO PARTY

   

Miss B's best friend, Chloe is ready for the office party.  Can you say egg nog anybody?

I'd Rather Be A Pessimist

A very dear friend is always telling me that I have to be more optimistic.  He says that I always see the glass half empty.  I was thinking about this recently and decided that I shall remain the pessimist until the day I die.  Why? You ask?  Because it is much more fun and satisfying to be a pessimist than an optimist.  These are some of the reasons why:

I always hope for the best, but expect the worst.  That way if even a little piece of whatever is happening goes right, I am always pleasantly surprised.

When I don't expect things to go my way and they do, it is one of the most gratifying experiences. Kind of like finding that $100 bill in your pocket from last winter. 

If I don't presume the best from people, it always makes me smile when I meet someone that is interesting, quirky or fun.  

If I don't anticipate simple courtesies from strangers, I am thrilled to have them happen (ie. someone holding the door for me or simply smiling when we pass).

I find that when I don't expect others to help me carry some of my burdens, this is when they always step up to the plate and let me unload.

I can still smile and be pleasant while being a pessimist.  Being a pessimist DOES NOT preclude a miserable persona and existance.

And Lastly . . .   WHEN MY GLASS IS HALF EMPTY, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE THERE WILLING TO FILL IT! :)

So there you have it.  The joys of pessimism.  Try it . . . It's not so bad.

The Surgery Was Successful

I was so stressed about looking like my dog, I rushed right out to have some alterations made to my appearance.  I think the surgery was very successful.  I now look nothing like the dog and am quite pleased with the results.  Please take a look and let me know what you think.

I am mighty pretty - Don't you agree?

Photo and special effects done on the new imac.   Pretty cool stuff!

They Say People Look Like Their Pets . . .

                                   

I'M SCREWED . . . 

Enough Said

And What A Nice Treat It Was

Eldest sis and family came into town for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  They were spending it with her hubby's family.  Let me say that it is always so difficult for eldest sis when they come home for a visit because they ALWAYS get inundated with old friends and family vying to spend time with her and her darling cherubs.  

They come home every summer for an approximate 2-3 week stay.  It is always frustrating because in that time Mr. P, myself and cherubs usually get a 24 hour window in which a frenzy ensues as we try to visit, catch up and do something fun.  It is all they have to give us - others need more time.  I always tell her not to worry about us, as we totally understand the time constraints when needing to fit 5,432 friends and family into a mere 3 weeks.  But this time was different.  And a nice treat indeed.  

Although eldest sis and family were officially here for Thanksgiving with her Dear Hubby's clan, we not only saw them once, but twice - go figure - they were only here for 3 1/2 days and we saw them twice as much as when they come for the long stays.  On Wednesday, my cherubs were thrilled at the prospect of not only being allowed to play hooky from school, but having breakfast out and then celebrating Christmas (we will not be seeing them at Christmas time, so we exchanged gifts then) and spending the day with their cousins.  We also got to see them for a few hours on Friday before they left to head home.  

It is always such a joy for me to see them.  Those children are the epitome of the "Stepford Children".  They are perfect.  Always smiling, always nice, always courteous and always using exceptional manners.  They greet you with such enthusiasm that it makes you feel like a movie star and they are always so thrilled no matter what you bring.  Every gift they opened was as if I had read their minds and bought them the absolute one thing they desperately wanted this year for Christmas.  I honestly believe that I could have wrapped a rock and a stick and they would still tell me how wonderful and thoughtful I am.  These children can make anyone feel good.  I truly adore them.  

Anyway, I was just so thrilled that we got to see them.  Our visits are so few and far between and I know that my dear cherubs miss them tremendously throughout the year.  So as I said before,  "What a nice treat it was!"

PS. Jason, if you are reading this, I remember that Little Miss B still owes you a new football!  I haven't forgotten

The Holidays Have Arrived

It amazes me how time gets away from you.  Sometimes, I am in awe of how slowly the days pass, while others seem to whizz by in mere minutes.  This time of year is always of the latter variety for me.  I actually was amazed at how long it has been since my last post when I opened up the dear old web today.  

Let's see, since my last post, our small brood has successfully celebrated Thanksgiving Day, semi-successfully attended and sang at the 2 Chorus Concerts for the Middle School, sat through 2 Parent/Teacher Conferences (which by the way were surprisingly and happily wonderful news), attended 2 consecutive puppy classes and did quite well, celebrated (yet again) eldest cherubs actual Birth Day, attended a birthday dinner for a dear friend, decorated the house for the holidays (the tree is a bone of contention with hubby, myself and children right now - but that is a story for later - maybe Monday's post?) and Little Miss B has started a career as model extraordinaire for UP COUNTRY pet products (adorable collars, leads, bowls, beds, treats and other accessories - rumor has it that they will be producing belts and flip-flops for the ladies soon too).  

We have also written, printed, copied and mailed 103 Christmas Cards.  We are doing well, right on schedule this year.  

Mr. P and I send so many Christmas Cards because it has become somewhat of a tradition since the birth of eldest cherub to do some sort of crazy, silly or nonsensical photo with an even sillier, nonsensical caption.  People love them because they break the monotony of the same old lovely family photo everyone else sends.  Each year, we have friends of family, friends of friends and even random strangers call or approach us and ask to be put on our card list.  It gets a little longer every year.  The biggest problem with this is that I think Mr. P and I are now actually out of ideas.  Please let me know if you or anyone out there has a good idea for something different for a Christmas photo - always looking for something interesting.  

I digress, anyway, last year, as the cards rolled in, I was particularly interested in the ones that we received that had the rundown on friends' and acquaintances' lives.  It makes me laugh, because it seems to me that everyone that sends those "newsletters" has such amazing children, spouses and lives.  Family members are traveling abroad, out saving the world, making millions and living the grand lives.  Do these people really exist??  I want to ask them, first of all, I wonder who is really interested in EVERYTHING that has happened in your family life all year?  And second of all, whose life is always coming up roses?  No one's I tell you, and if they are saying it is - THEY ARE LYING!

I decided, upon reading those letters, that I was sending one too.  So this year, I started it in January . . . only with a twist . . . I was going to label it "ALL THE THINGS THAT PISSED ME OFF IN 2008", only I figured that would send Dear Old Mother over the edge (I send them to her friends too and I wouldn't want to bring that kind of embarrassment on our family) . . .  So instead, I wrote a poem and labeled it "THE 12 MONTHS OF CHRISTMAS".  It is as follows:

BECAUSE OF MISFORTUNE

BAD LUCK & DREAD

THIS YEAR BRINGS NO PHOTO

BUT A POEM INSTEAD

LATE IN MONTH 1 

MR P FELL

HIS SPILL WAS QUITE BAD

WE THOUGHT HE'D NEVER GET WELL

LEAVING THE HOSPITAL

MR P ON HIS BACK 

ARRIVED AT THE CAR 

TO A BIG WINDSHIELD CRACK

THE DISHWASHER & DRYER

IN MONTH 2 THEY DID BREAK

THE DOWNSPOUT WAS HANGING 

THE RAIN MADE A LAKE

MONTH 3 WAS THE CHINA HUTCH

IT FELL JUST FOR KICKS

THE MAILBOX GOT SMASHED

IT COULDN'T BE FIXED

OPENED THE POOL 

IN APRIL TO SWIM

THE HEATER BROKE DOWN

ON IT'S OWN VENGEFUL WHIM

MONTH 5 BROUGHT US TERMITES

THEY CREATED A TOWN

3 DAYS OF POISON 

SO THE HOUSE WOULDN'T FALL DOWN

MONTH 6 IT WAS PROBLEMS

WITH A BIG BROKEN TRUCK

NO ONE WOULD TAKE IT 

JUST MORE BAD LUCK

JULY BROUGHT US BEATRICE

SHE JOINED OUR SMALL BROOD

WHAT A GREAT PET

SHE NIPPED, BIT AND CHEWED

OUR HOUSE IN MONTH 8

STILL DIDN'T IMPROVE

IT GOT TO A POINT

I THOUGHT WE SHOULD MOVE

IN MONTH 9 IT WAS MEDICAL BILLS

THAT MADE OUR HEADS FOG

NOT FOR DEAR HUBBY

BUT FOR OUR DEAR DOG

IN MONTH 10 OUR HOT WATER

OH, IT DID FLOOD

THE BASEMENT WAS SOAKED

THE GARAGE FULL OF MUD

MONTH 10 ALSO BROUGHT

A SICK PAPA SCARE

A TYPICAL WAY

TO END THIS STRANGE YEAR

NOVEMBER WAS TIME

FOR A NEW FRIDGE SO NICE

BUT ALAS, IT WAS BROKEN

AND WOULDN'T MAKE ICE

WITH ALL THAT WENT WRONG

AS 'O8 SLOWLY PASSED

WE GREET THE YEARS END

WITH THE SIGH, "OH, AT LAST!"

MONTH 12 OF '08 

THE END IS IN SIGHT

IN 2009, WE KNOW

ALL WILL BE RIGHT!

Please note:  I did add a little disclaimer to avoid the need for medical services for Dear Mother and Father.  It says -

FOR ALL WHO READ THIS

PLEASE TAKE IT IN JEST

FOR ALL THAT WENT WRONG

OUR LIFE'S STILL THE BEST!

So, there you have it - the first REALITY BASED Christmas Poem.  

No, really, I wish all who stop by a truly wonderful and blessed Holiday - and always remember to make it at least a little bit fun!

Till Later . . .